Footwork ( Ashi Sabaki ) in karate

 Topic - Ashi Sabaki ( footwork )

Footwork is a significant training part of any martial arts. Following are the type of footworks in Shito ryu karate. Footworks are usually practiced in 8 different directions ( tenshin happo). 

Types of  footwork in Karate 

a. Ayumi Ashi – Walking foot – step through 

b. Mawari Ashi – Turning 

c. Yori Ashi - Front foot moves forward first and back leg follows 

d. Tsugi Ashi – Back leg moves forward first then front leg moves forward 

e. Okuri Ashi – Similar to Yori ashi but leaping instead of sliding 

f. Surikomi Ashi – Similar to Tsugi ashi but back leg crosses front leg while moving forward 

g. Chidori Ashi – moving sideways by crossing leg eg. Naifanchi kata sideways movement 

h. Fumikae Ashi – Switching leg without moving 

i. Hiraki Ashi – change body directions by pivoting on one foot 

 

Footworks are practiced in 8 different directions ( tenshin happo ) eg. Shiho Ashi Sabaki( 4 directions) in moto dachi – using yori ashi footwork moving forward (mae), backward (ato) , to the left ( hidari) and to the right ( migi) . Other 4 directions are diagonal (45 degrees )– (mae naname left & right – ushiro naname left & right )